In an exclusive interview with Reuters, US Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran must “meaningfully” reduce its nuclear enrichment capabilities to meet US terms and end the ongoing seven-month Iran war with the US, even as Washington remains uncertain about Tehran’s internal decision-making process.
Vance, a longtime critic of US involvement in foreign conflicts, has spearheaded diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, having previously brokered a short-lived tentative peace agreement in June.
Beyond destabilizing global energy markets, the conflict has emerged as a major political vulnerability for US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming November midterm elections.
Following a campaign trip to Alaska, Vance stated on Monday that any agreement would compel Iran to lower its nuclear enrichment capacity rather than provide guaranties of future nuclear drawdowns.
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not ​building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel. That’s a very basic threshold issue,” Vance said.
“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on ​their enrichment capacity.”
Peace proposal
In recent weeks, Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals aimed at resolving the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for global energy transit. However, President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest submission and threatened to expand military actions following the November elections.
Vice President JD Vance stated that the US remains open to a negotiated settlement, provided Iran agrees to concrete nuclear concessions.
“We’re not going to trade words for actions,” Vance said.
Senior administration officials, along with President Trump, have consistently maintained that Tehran must dismantle or transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon.
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Tehran’s red line
Meanwhile, A senior Iranian official stated that no discussions regarding the country’s nuclear program have taken place with the US, maintaining that Washington must first satisfy Tehran’s prerequisites before nuclear negotiations can commence.
The official emphasized that US recognition of Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment remains a firm red line with no room for flexibility, though technical details concerning enrichment levels could potentially be addressed in subsequent discussions.
The senior Iranian official involved in indirect talks with the US noted that Vice President Vance’s statements reflect Washington’s position, adding that while the US is free to present its proposals, they conflict with Iran’s requirements.
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